Wear the Damn Bathing Suit

It is officially summer here in Hampton Roads and other places across the United States. And as a Mom I have had it! This summer, I am taking a stand and declaring that the summer of 2017 for all Moms out there will be the summer that we wear the DAMN bathing suit!

Rock that Body

I understand how self-conscious it is to be a Mom. Believe me! I see the young 20-something-year olds at the beach that look like they stepped out of a photo shoot opposed to a day at the beach that involved a million “necessities”, a toddler who threw a tantrum, and not a moment to enjoy your beer since not only are you Mom, you’re doubling as life guard.

I was once a young 20-something-year old who came to the beach with not a care in the world.

In fact, if my college self saw me in a two-piece today she would probably tell me to rock the one piece instead.

But my college self was so naive and thought that her body could take anything — honestly, it had survived way too many nights of tequila shots and Natty Light.

What my college self didn’t know was all the amazing things that my body was capable of doing. I am still in awe that my body could create a beautiful smart little girl in just 42 weeks. And then, after 22 hours of labor and an emergency C-section, bounce right back to take care of this small, delicate new born.

Also, that my body could survive off very little sleep, be drained to the point where I thought I had nothing left and then give more.

Not only as Moms but as women, our bodies are truly amazing in what we can do.

Wear the Damn Bathing Suit

I know that as a Mom, I am guilty of trying to hide the stretch marks, baby weight and C-section scars and shelfs, when in all honesty; I should be rocking them as battle scars. The marks and parts of our body that we deem are unsightly are actually signs of our body’s strength and proof that our body can do anything.

We Moms deserve to wear the damn bathing suit and feel as beautiful as our children see us. Rock the C-sections scars, stretch marks and baby weight as you chase after your wonderful children in the ocean.

Wear the damn bathing suit so you don’t miss out on time with your family. Rather than sit on the side of the pool fully clothed worrying about the size of your thighs, put on your bathing suit and play Marco Polo in the pool with your kids. Teach your littles how to do cannon balls. Make memories with your family rather than sit on the sidelines and watch memories being made around you.

The truth is, your kids won’t remember your stretch marks, baby weight or the C-section shelf.
Your kids will remember the afternoon you spent building the largest sandcastle they have ever seen, or the morning swims at the neighborhood pool.

Maybe if all us Moms got out this summer and wore our damn bathing suits, it would help to encourage other Moms to get out there and do the same.

We only get so many summers with our kids, let’s not waste them worrying about how we look.